Trump to issue order allowing sanctions on foreigners meddling in U.S. elections

Bolton said that the U.S. considers interference to be not only attacks on election infrastructure but also the distribution of propaganda and disinformation.

"Obviously we're looking at having evidence that interference has occurred", he said, but added: "The executive order is not country-specific". "I think his actions speak for themselves". Trump has called the federal investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election a "witch hunt".

Trump has drawn widespread criticism for not taking threats to the USA electoral system seriously enough, particularly Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race. It is also not limited to attacks on campaign infrastructure, but also applies to the spread of propaganda and misinformation.

In July, Trump met one-on-one with Putin, a meeting he did not ask his top intelligence officials - including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats - for advice on, Coats later revealed.

Both men gave a briefing on Wednesday outlining details of the executive order, which creates a framework to act should election meddling be identified.

The order sets up a high-level process for the USA intelligence community and other law enforcement officials to investigate and evaluate possible election meddling.

Airlines Waiving Change Fees Ahead of Hurricane FlorenceHurricane Helene is heading north to open sea and now poses no danger to land after the storm hit cooler waters in the Atlantic. The president also said the states affected could get "more water than we have ever seen in a storm or a hurricane".

"Today's announcement by the administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it", Van Hollen and Rubio said. Acting on the law, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against 24 Russians, striking at allies of Putin.

In the discussion on Tuesday evening, Rogers also recounted his conversations with Trump about Russia's continued attempts to disrupt the U.S. electoral system through cyber means in 2016 and beyond.

Any individual, entity or country which authorises, directs, sponsors or supports interference could be hit with economic penalties under the United States president's new order. "Unfortunately, President Trump demonstrated in Helsinki and elsewhere that he simply can not be counted upon to stand up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin when it matters", said Warner, who is sponsoring the bill.

Mr. Bolton said the president made clear his support for US spy agencies, imposed sanctions on Russian Federation and took other actions such as the executive order.

But Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Republican Richard Burr expressed hope the new executive order will "send a clear message" to Russia, Iran and others. That report will then be turned over to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions as well as the Department of Homeland Security.

With the midterm elections now two months away, National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said the United States is not currently seeing the intensity of Russian intervention that was experienced in 2016, but didn't rule it out. United States intelligence agencies now believe that Russian Federation would again try to interfere the mid-term polls this year and also the 2020 presidential elections.

Coats said the measure was being put in place to try to ensure the government is doing everything it can to prevent interference, report on any suspicious activity between now and the midterms in November, and to do a full assessment after the election that would trigger sanctions if necessary. Russian entities have not targeted those systems to the degree they did in 2016, Coats said Wednesday.

The order, which will allow new sanctions against Russian or other foreign actors, was inked on Wednesday morning.

"When it comes to foreign policy, my administration has delivered decisively and taken action where previous administrations have not", Trump said.

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